Margie Reynolds knows when ...

Margie Reynolds, at left, an Environmental Specialist/Planner for the City of Sebastian, looks at the bark of a 130-year-old tree in the yard of Sebastian resident Tom Murphy. Murphy and his wife Janet have named the tree “Annie Oak Tree.”

JANET BEGLEY Correspondent

This Sebastian Champion Live Oak Tree measures 16 feet in circumference, and is still growing.

JANET BEGLEY Correspondent

If a tree grows in Sebastian, you can be sure that city environmental specialist/planner Margie Reynolds knows about it.

As the city’s tree “guru,” Reynolds is the link between homeowners who have trees on their property and city codes that protect them.

“Sebastian is a 10-year Tree City,” said Reynolds. “We have city ordinances that protect and maintain the natural canopy in the city.”

Homeowners can’t remove any trees from their property without first consulting Reynolds, who does a site inspection of the tree. City ordinances require that there be seven trees on a typical lot, and it’s Reynold’s job to make sure regulations are adhered to.

“But it’s based on the diameter of the tree,” said Reynolds. “If you have a live oak tree that’s 30 inches in circumference, it could count as several trees.”

Reynolds encourages homeowners to plant trees that are native species such as Queen and Sabal palms, oak, cypress, laurel and citrus trees.

“What we’re looking for are trees that are indigenous to our area in Florida,” Reynolds said. “When I go out to a site, I’m not only looking at the residential requirements but to make sure that the trees are not invasive species.”

Tom and Janet Murphy of Sebastian bought their lot on Coverbrook Lane nine years ago specifically because of the huge live oak tree that grows on the property. They have consulted numerous times with Reynolds about the giant tree, along with the six other live oak trees that adorn their property.

“My wife calls the tree ‘Annie Oak Tree,’ and it’s the reason that we’re here in Sebastian,” said Tom Murphy. “We started coming to Sebastian to visit my in-laws and we saw the tree. Janet said ‘I want this lot’ and we bought it.”

With the Murphy’s tree continuing to grow, it made it to the city’s list of “Champion Trees” several years ago. It now measures 16 feet in circumference, and is estimated to be 130 years old.

With 22 years of tree experience under her belt, Reynolds continues to be Sebastian’s resident tree expert. She welcomes calls from residents who are building on lots or simply have questions about the trees that already on their property.